Timely news

Many here frequently pick on the local newspaper - the "Midland Daily News" and for good reason. I've heard just about everything others have been saying through the years - stuff I won't go into here. Isn't it an amazing coincidence, though, that the "Daily News" costs only 50 cents for the daily edition and 75 cents for daily copies of the "Bay City Times" and "Saginaw News".

I digress...

The latest exhibit is the front page of last Saturday's "Daily News" that is pictured here. The main article is about cartoonist Cathy Guisewite's contribution of some "Cathy" drawings to help promote the Midland Convention Visitor's Bureau website. Breaking News? Yes, except that the other "local" newspapers ran similar stories about the artwork a week or two before.

Maybe it's high time for the newspaper to step up and join the rest of us in the 21st century. You decide...

What is it with the hair in this family?

Here is a photo of Donald Trump Jr. I took off of TV last Friday as he appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box.

What is it with the hair in this family?

Don't pile your snow at the end of the driveway!!!

Here's why!!! This was my view at the end of one of my customers' driveways last week. This was the view at both sides of the driveway and it's a dangerous situation as I can't see around this to find out of cars are coming.

Geocache event - Changing of the Guard (01.20.09)

What else to do on an inauguration day, have a geocache event. Monkeybusiness and Foxgallagher did just that - have a Flash mob event that lasted 15 minutes (c'mon, seriously do you want to have a longer event outside with temps in the teens).

I arrived at the Midland City Forest just after 5 - I think I was first to arrive. Over the next half hour, others began to arrive though we layed low for a while. After 5:30, our hosts began to arrive. That's when we all started to congregate by their van. We all signed the logs, received patriotic lei's, and then visited for a bit before "door prizes" were presented.

I actually won something this time - a Migo sticker. And I got it too. As I recall, at the last event I won a special ink pen but never received it. I think the event host moved away shortly afterward (a common occurance in Michigan).

We posed for pictures (those are posted by others on the event website) and then we mingled while others started to leave. Some wanted to do one of the two night caches in the forest but the one they wanted to do was the one I had already done. They had felt that the other one was too far out on a cold night like this. I was going to do it before I later went to the parking spot and wasn't sure if it was a safe spot for my car. Oh well, maybe another day!

Changing of the Guard link on Geocaching.com - must be a member to view full details.

A few of the pics I took with my cold camera...

Figured something would happen eventually

After an 0-16 season for football's Detroit Lions, I'd expect some interesting things to happen in the aftermath. Such as...

1. 1. Firing the coach. Already done - the day after the end of the season. I understand a new coach was hired this week. He has a chance, simply because his last name doesn't start with the letter "M".
3. 2. Everyone else tries to pin the blame on everybody else. A growing number of fans want to pin the blame on team owner William Clay Ford, an owner who since buying the team in the 60's has won only 1 playoff game and who many feel is out of touch with football in general.

This is obviously the thinking behind the top billboard in this picture. The message is clear from these people - Mr. Ford, please sell the team to someone who knows what the heck they're doing. And no I haven't checked out the website. I don't know how many of these billboards are around the state, but I first found this one a week-and-a-half ago on M-20 between 7- & 8- Mile Roads in western Midland County

Who let the paczki's out...

You can almost sing this to the tune of "Who let the dogs out" but probably not today.

I can remember a time, actually not too long ago, when we eagerly awaited the arrival of Fat Tuesday so we can stuff ourselves with plenty of paczki's and then wait a whole year before we can get them again.

Now, my local Wal-Mart has gone and spoiled the whole thing for us. The picture at left shows what I found this week in the sweet and fattening section of the previously mentioned store. And just how long is it until this special day arrives for us.

So what's next - the first annual Fat Tuesday Sale. I said this last night to some friends who were in the store at the same time I was. I looked around for a second after saying that and pointed out the first item to be listed in that sale - a "Slimfast" display conveniently placed near some more paczki's for sale.

See you next year?

Star Trek Destiny (POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

No this is not some announced new Star Trek show premiering next fall. Rather, this is a set of recently published Star Trek Novels that is probably the best I've read in some time.

SET-UP - The books mostly take place in the 24th century a while after the events in the "Nemesis" movie. Data is still dead, Riker is in command of the Titan and is accompanied by his wife Deanna Troi, and Worf is Picard's first officer on the Enterprise E. Mixed in is the next generation of Starfleet crews on each ship featured here. At risk: existance of the federation itself as the Borg continue and increase their attacks on the Federation and their allies.

BOOK 1 - LOST SOULS

As the book starts, we are shown (what seems like) 3 seperate missions. The USS Aventine, under the command of Ezri Dax (DS9 season 7), comes across the ruins of the Columbia (Enterprise season 4) on a planet in the Gamma Quadrant. The USS Titan is on a deep space exploration assignment and stumbles across, not a Borg staging area as they think, but the new homeworld of a reclusive race called the Caeliar. The USS Enterprise-E is in the midst of preparing for an all-out battle with the Borg.

In addition, we are treated to a bonus story of what turns out to be the Columbia's final mission as they too make contact with the Caeliar just before a systemwide catastrophy.

BOOK 2 - MERE MORTALS

In this book, we learn of Captain Erika Hernandez's struggles in working with the Caeliar and with herself over hundreds of years as a civilization out of time. Starships Aventine and Enterprise join forces and spar over ways to get the attention of the Borg, who are laying waste to worlds across the Federation. Meanwhile, at the Caeliar homeworld the Titan landing party are trying to adjust to life at their new home while looking for the means of escape as is the Titan which is orbiting above.

BOOK 3 - LOST SOULS

In Lost Souls, the three starships finally meet up and start making preparations for the final battle with the Borg. Captain Hernandez has a few tricks up her sleeve based on her long experience with the Caeliar civilization and even involves the Caeliar in one of her plans. Meanwhile, Captain Picard is dealing with a moral dilemma in what he hopes is the destruction of the collective. Finally, a surprise as the crews learn a long lost secret in the origins of their toughest enemy ever.

All in all, this has been an interesting series of books to read. It looks like upcoming novels will followup with the rebuilding of the Federation following these devestating attacks.

Update on future of Floyd Elem. & Pine River Elem.

Earlier this week, I shared a story that appeared in the Midland paper about what kind of cuts the Bullock Creek School District could make if it failed to receive revenue from county taxpayers.

The most controversial part of the plan was a grade realignment that would close two of the district's elementary schools - Pine River and Floyd.

Since then, the board of education met and amongst the things they considered was how to prioritize any potential spending cuts. Essentially - they didn't want to even consider closing the two schools unless they were in a situation of "last resort".

Cheers - to the board for having the guts to stand up to the superintendent and tell him his plan to close schools is bad and wrong for the community.

Jeers - to Superintendent John Hill for even having the gall to make the suggestion to close 2/3 of your grade schools and expect to have a minimal impact on the community. You, Mr. Superintendent, are out of touch with this district and really don't have to much of an understanding of reality in this matter.

Have a nice day!

Feeling angry yet?

You should be after eating the latest from Burger King. It's called the Angry Whopper and I had a chance to try one last night. It looks like a regular Whopper (I chose the Double) but it has pepperjack cheese, special onions, bacon, jalapenos, and a special sauce for this deal. It's very tasty and spicy as I could taste the hot stuff right away.

I got the large size meal and deleted the tomatoes, like I normally would when I buy a Whopper. It only cost me something like 15 cents more than the regular meal. Don't know how long it'll be around but enjoy it while you can.

Here are a couple of camera phone photos...

The latest to eat in Michigan

Who's eating in Michigan now? Look! It's the Travel Channel's own Anthony Bourdain. The Detroit Free Press confirms this morning that the "No Reservations" host has been filming in Detroit this week for an episode that would very likely air later this year.

Can't wait. :)

Attention - all Floyd Elementary alumni

This is an urgent note addressed to any Floyd Elementary (Bullock Creek Schools - Midland, MI) alumni who may Google their way into this blog entry...

The Bullock Creek School District's financial situation is quickly becoming dire. According to Tuesday's Midland Daily News says the district is considering three options to help overcome the shortfall: a countywide enhancement millage that will benefit all 4 Midland County districts, a Bullock Creek only bond millage, or making $1 million in cuts. If the first two ideas come through there won't be need for cuts.

If cuts need to be made, it won't be pretty and will affect all levels of operation. The district proposes a major realignment of the grade levels. All Kindergarten through second grade students would attend Bullock Creek Elementary, all third through sixth graders would attend what is now Bullock Creek Middle School, and all seventh to twelveth graders would attend classes in Bullock Creek High School. If cost cutting were to occur, Pine River Elementary would close as would Floyd Elementary which is the only K-5 school serving all of the western parts of Bullock Creek.

Bullock Creek is hosting 3 meetings seeking public input in this matter: 1) Jan. 26 at BCHS's auditorium 2) Feb. 11 at Floyd's community room and 3) Feb. 12 back at BCHS. All meetings are at 7pm.

The source for all information here is Tuesday's (01.06.09) Midland Daily News which can be viewed through http://www.ourmidland.com/

Happy New Ear - 2009

Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas & New Year's Holidays. Now it's back to business, even after the inevitable 0-16 season from football's Detroit Lions.

For starters, I see that a food chain I wish I could visit has finally made its way to Michigan. A detnews article this morning mentions the opening of the second SONIC restaurant in southeast Michigan.

I've seen the advertisements on TV for sometime and the food looks good. The closest store I would have had to visit would have been in Indiana. They seemed very resistant in coming here until this last year. What I didn't know is that (the article points out) the company has opened 2 additional stores including one in Flint which is little over an hour away from here.

Sometime this year, I'll have to find the place and let you know what I think